Means for separating particles of solid material by flotation



. Dec.3, 1940- v R. s. ELLIS 2,223,679

MEANS FOR SEPARATING PARTICLES OF SOLID MATERIAL BY FLOTATION Filed April 19, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 //VV/V Tale.- lel/ssiu JcorrfL 41$ By war;

3, 1940- R. s. ELLIS 7 2,223,679

MEANS FOR SEPARATING PARTICLES OF SOLID MATERIAL BY FLOTATION Filed April 19, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 //V VE /V 70/?! Eusssu. 56077 fLL/s;

x m e Dec. 3, 1940. R ELUS 2,223,579

MEANS FOR SEPARAT ING PARTICLES OF SOLID MATERIAL BY FLOTA TION Filed April- 19, 1939 3 SheetS-Sheet 3 //V VENTQR.

190x541 ScorrfluS,

Patented Dec. '3, 1940' MEANS FOR SEPARATING iiTHGE-ES F SOLID MATERIAL BY FLOTEATFIQN Russell Scott Ellis, Vineland, N. .3.

Application April 19, 1939, Serial No. 288,668

6 Claims.

My present invention relates to methods and means of the same general character as disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,104,537 granted to me January 4, 1938, and No.

2,146,672 granted to me February '7, 1939, and is applicable to any material particles of different the lowermost receptacle is delivered into the go next higher receptacle, and the material which is not precipitated in the second receptacle is delivered into a third receptacle, and so on, the materials precipitated in the several receptacles being discharged separately from the bottoms thereof, and the finest materials, finally separated by flotation, being discharged from the top receptacle. I p

In the form of my inventionchosen for illustration herein, as in each of said patents, the separator casing has a conical portion with its apex extending vertically downward, and has an inlet conduit for the material to be separated extending tangentially into one side thereof below the top, and an outlet conduit extending tangentially from the upper part of the casing. An axial inlet conduit for the flotation fluid extends vertically through said casing in coaxial relation therewith. That conduit is connected with two distinct flotation fluid supply conduits, respectively above and below said casing, through either or both of which flotation fluid may be delivered into the casing under pressure and including .means for varying the eiiective area of the orifice through which the flotation fluid is discharged er plates to vary the eiiectlve area of the annular orifice between them, but also improved valve means for controlling the passage of flotation fluid downward from within the spreader plate structure to facilitate the discharge of the g precipitated material which gravitates downward outside of said. spreader plate structure, within and from the separator casing. As hereinafter described, such valve means includes a circular plate having a circular series oi openin ings therethrough adapted to register with or more or less obstruct a similar circular series of openings in a stationary diaphragm in said spreader structure; said valve plate having a tubular extension forming a sleeve closely fltit ting around said axial inlet conduit for the flotation fluid and having a radially projecting han= die by which said sleeve and plate 3; be turned.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement and 20 method of operation hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings, Fig. I is a diagrammatic elevation including a single separator casing conveniently embodying my improvements. 25

Fig. II is a vertical sectional view of the lower portion of the structure shown in Fig. I, but on a larger scale.

Fig. III is a plan sectional view, taken on the line III, III in Fig. II. 30

Fig. IV. is a plan view of the perforated diaphragm in the spreader structure shown in Fig.

Referring to Fig. I, l is a conical separator casing having its apex downward, and the inlet con- 35 duit 2 for the material to be separated extending tangentially into the side thereof. The axial inlet conduit 3 for the flotation fluid extends vertically through the casing I, in coaxial relation therewith, and has vents a in said casing. Sup- .4 ply conduits 3 and Ii connect said conduit 3 with means for delivering flotation fluid through it into said casing I, under pressure, for instance a pump 5. The supply of flotation fluid through conduits 3 and 3 may be controlled by respective valves t and 4 Naturalsand is supplied through conduit 2, mixed with flotation water and under pressure, from pump 6.

I find that the maximum speed of separation of sand is attained by predetermining an upwardly extending path in the separator casing from the inlet 2 'to the upper tangential outlet 1, for the lighter material, which may extend tothe next in a series of such separator casings,

than the initial separator casing.

Therefore, I provide baille means between said inlet and outlet, to form such a path in said casing I, between said material inlet 2 and said upper outlet 1. As described in said Patent 2,146,672, such baflle means includes a sector of a cylinder 8 in. coaxial, and laterally inwardly. spaced, relation with the perimeter of said casing I, and having at its lower end the sector of an annular plate 8 which extends in a substantially horizontal plane at its upper portion, but

is facilitated.

The cylindrical receptacle 8 for flotation fluid, surrounds said inlet conduit 3 in coaxial relation therewith and has the plane diaphragm Q- with a circular series of openings 9 there through through which a predetermined limited quantity of the flotation fluid may be permitted to escape into the cylindrical lower portion l' of the separator casing through which the material precipitated in said casing is discharged by way of the outlet Ill. The effect of that arrangement is that the precipitated material is turbulated in and by the flotation fluid passing downwardly through said diaphragm 3, and its progress to and through said discharge outlet I! thus facilitated. However, the upper end of said receptacle 9 has the outwardly flared completely annular spreader flange 9 overwhich the major portion of the flotation fluid is distributed uniformly into the annular space I in said casing i. The diaphragm, plate 9 which is tightly fltted at the top of said receptacle 9 around said axial conduit 3, rigidly supports said flange 8 in coaxial relation with said axial conduit, but is provided with a circular series of ports 9" which permit the flotation fluid to pass freely therethrough. i

It is to be particularly noted that, as shown in Fig. II, said annular space I is of uniform width from the bottom tov the top thereof. but

but is of gradually increasing, diameter and correspondingly increasing area from the bottom to the top thereof, so that the 'rate of upward motion of the flotation fluid from the bottom to the top of said space gradually diminishes, and

.and'its change of movement, from vertical to vertical direction in the upwardly increasing greater area above the top of said flange 3 is facilitated andvthe heavier particles of solid material are free to gravitate back down the conicalwall of said casing I in said space I' at an accelerated rate corresponding with the downwardly diminishing area of said space I.

I flnd it convenient to provide said diaphragm 3' in said receptacle 3 with the pendent cylinas indicated at i, at levels successively higher As means to adjustably vary the effective area of said openings 3 I provide the circular valve plate H witha circular series of openings ll therethrough adapted to register with, or more or less obstruct, the circular series of openings 9 in said stationary diaphragm 9. Said valve plate It has the tubular extension, forming a sleeve ll closely fitting the outeracylindrical surface of said sleeve 9, and having the radially projecting handle ll by which said sleeve II and valve plate ll may be turned. 1 flnd it convenient to provide said handle ll with the index pointer H adapted to traverse the arcuate scale plate i which is mounted, on the outer cylindrical surface of the casin cylinder I. Said scale plate I may be provided with a series of circumferentially spaced graduations to manefiective area of the openings 9 in the diaphragm 9 determined by adjustment of, said valve plate H by the handle H.

To prevent accidental rotary displacement f said spreader structure 9 by rotary adjustment ifest the position of said valve and indicate the of said valve plate H, I provide said cylindrical receptacle 9 with the inwardly projecting bracket 9 which-has a hole' extending therethrough parallel with the axis of said conduit 3 to receive the upper smooth cylindrical end of the stop bolt 9 which may be secured in adjusted position by the nut 9.

A- second cylindrical receptacle H for flotation fluid, having a completely annular spreader flange l2 at the lower edge thereof, is axially opposed to said flange 9 above the latter and is fixed on said axial conduit 3, by any convenient means. The diaphragm plate I2, which is tightly fitted around the axial conduit 3 at the junction of said receptacle I! with the flange I2, rigidly supports said flange [2'- in coaxial relation with said axial conduit, but is provided with a circular series of ports i2 which permit the flotation fluid to pass freely therethrough.

The spreader structure including said flange 9 is axially adjustable on said axial inlet conduit 3, so that the operator may precisely determine and vary the area of the completely annular fluid passageway between said flange 3 and the flange l2. For that purpose, the pendent cylindrical sleeve 9, which is slip-fitted on said axial conduit 3, has rigidly, but detachably, connected therewith the packing collar 13 by which the receptacle 9 and spreader flange 8 may be manually raised and lowered, through the stumng box H on the bottom of said casing member I. I

Said collar l3 contains two packing rings;

metal such as tin, lead, or copper, adjustable 'by the screw gland l3 to normally rigidly connect said collar and the sleeve 9, and, second, the flexible ring l3 which is formed of lubricated cotton and adjustable by the screw gland l3 to prevent fluid leakage from the interstice' between said axial conduit 3 and sleevel.

The packing-collar It? contains but one packing ring l5, preferably formed of ductile metal and adjustable by the screw gland I!" to normally rigidly connect said collar with said axial inlet conduit 3 in any desired position of vertical adjustment determining the effective area of the annular fluid passageway between said spreader flange 9 and I2". I findit convenient to provide said collar IS with the annular flange 'flrst, the ring l3, preferably formed of ductile 3 to lock the collar l3 and the spreader flange 9 connected therewith in any position to which it may be adjusted by the operator.

Moreover, I find it convenient to provide said casing l and each of the other casings in the series with respective stufling boxes It at the top thereof through which said axialconduit 31s axially adjustable, so that the operator may place the upper spreader flange l2 in any desired position with respect to he height of said casing I said casing I and t e inlet conduit 8 being rigidly connected in any position oi! relative adjustment b pressing the packing in said stufling box 16.

The precipitated material discharge outlet conduit in of casing I, and each casing in the series employed, may be supplemented to convey the precipitated material from each separator easing into respective bins. I prefer to provide each such outlet m with means for adiustably predetermining the eflective area thereof and, for that purpose, provide the valve casing 58 with a slot l8 opening through one side thereof to receive any selected one or a series or slide plates l8 having respective discharge openings l8 therethrough of respectively different sizes. The upper discharge outlet I from the uppermost separator casing in the series, may likewise be supplemented with a conduit leading to a bin for the oyerflow material discharged there-' through.

It is to be understood that the solid material delivered into the separator casing i through the inlet conduit 2, mixed with flotation water and under pressure from pump 6, tends to gravitate toward the bottom of said casing, and the pressure of the flotation fluid supplied to said casing determines what portion of the solid material is permitted to be precipitated in said casing past the annular Jet of flotation fluid, for instance, clear water, passing radially outward through the annular opening between said spreader flanges 9 and 2. The solid material tending to pass downward between the flange 9 and the casing I through the annular space i, is turbulated by the flotation fluid which finds its main outlet at the top of the casing through the upper tangential conduit 1, carrying with it the lighter material which has not been permitted to precipitate-to the bottom of the casing but which maybe precipitated in a similar casing higher in the series.

However, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction, arrangement, or method of operation herein set forth, as it is ob vious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In means for separating particles of solid material y i n; the combination with a separator casing, which is conical, with its apex downward, and has a lateral inlet for the material to be separated, a lateral outlet for the material precipitated in said casing, and a lateral outlet for the material not precipitated in said casing; 01' a conduit for flotation fluid extending axially in, and having lateral vents within, said casing; a circular receptacle for said fluid, surrounding said vents, in coaxial relation with said casing and conduit, and in radially spaced relation with said casing; a flange at the top of said receptacle which is conical with its apex downward and in substantially equally spaced relation with the inner wall oi said casing from the bottom to the top of said flange; whereby, upward movement of the flotation fluid in the space between said casing and flange is decelere ated from the bottom to the top of said flange and the lighter particles of solid material thereby freed for separation and discharged through said lateral outlet; a diaphragm within, and in integral relation with the lower part of said receptacle, and having a series of fluid outlet ports therethrough, leading to the region in which material is precipitated, and a cylindrical sleeve slidably fitted around said conduit; a circular valve plate, fitted to said diaphragm, an hay-- ing ports adapted to register with the diaphragm ports, and a cylindrical sleeve slidably fitted around the receptacle sleeve and extending exterior to said casing; a handle on said sleeve, whereby it may be turned to adjustably, variably, determine the efiective area of said ports, and thereby predetermine the relative volumes of flotation fluid respectively directed upwardly and downwardly between said casing and said flange on the receptacle; stop means in said casing, for preventing turning movement of said receptacle by turning movement or said valve; a collar, encircling said axial conduit and both of said sleeves, exterior to said casing, whereby said receptacle may be axially adjusted in said casing; and constrictin means, in said collar, adjustable to irictionally secure )said sleeves and receptacle in variable adjusted relation to said casing.

2. In means for separating particles of solid material by flotation; the combination with a separator casing, which is conical, with its apex downward, and has a lateral inlet for the mateto be separated, and lateral outlet for the material precipitated in said casing; of a conduit for flotation fluid extending axially in, and

having vertically spaced lateral vents within,

said casing; a circular receptacle for said fluid, surrounding said vents, in coaxial relation with said casing and conduit, and in radially spaced relation with said casing; a flange at the top of said receptacle which is conical with its apex downward and in substantially equally spaced relation with the inner wall of said. casing from the bottom to the top of said flange; whereby upward movement of the flotation fluid in the space between said casing and flange is decelerated from bottom to the top of said flange and the lighter particles of solid material thereby freed for separation and discharged through said lateral outlet; a diaphragm Within the lower part of said receptacle between said vents, and having a fluid outlet port therethrough leading to the region in which the material is precipitated; valve means, including a cylindrical sleeve slidably fltted around said conduit and extending exterior to said casing: and means on said sleeve, exterior to said casing, whereby it may be adjustable to variably determine the relative proportions of fluid injected into said receptacle at diflerent heights, in accordance with the nature and quantity of the solid material being separated.

3. A. structure ,as in claim 2; wherein the axial conduit extends through both the top and bottom of the separator casing; a single fluid to the upper and lower ends of said conduit;

whereby the relative volumes of fluid respectively discharged downwardly and upwardly in said casing, by said pump, may be variably predetermined,-in accordance with the nature and quantity'oi the solid material being separated.

4. A structure as in claim 2; wherein the axial conduit extends through both the top and ,bottom ,of the casing, and the lateral vents in said conduit are vertically spaced both above and below the top' of the receptacle; 'means for supplying fluid to both ends of said conduit; and

material by flotation; the combination with a separator casing, which is conical, with its apex downward, and has a lateral inlet for the material to be separated, a lateral outlet for the material precipitated in said casing, and a lateral outlet for the material not precipitated in said casing; of a conduit for flotation fluid extending axially in and through both the top and bottom of said casing, and having vertically spaced lateral vents within said casing; two circular fluid receptacles in coaxial relation with,

and interposed between, said casing and conduit in spaced relation with both; respective .diaphragms in each of said receptacles extending between vertically spaced vents from said conduit within the respective receptacles, and each having vertical ports therethrough; means ex-' terior to said casing, respectively in coaxial and receptacles may be relatively vertically'adjusted with respect to said'conduit and the vents thererigid relation with said receptacles, whereby said in and a completely annular fluid passageway is formed between the adjacent ends of the respective receptacles and may be varied in eiIective area and the relative volumes of fluid discharged upwardly and downwardly in said casins may be variably predetermined in accordmaterial being separated.

6. A structure as in claim 1; wherein the receptacle is vertically adjustable in the casing and the stop means in said casing, for preventing turning movement of said receptacle by turning movement of said valve includes an element fixed in said casing in eccentric relation with said conduit and extending vertically in a bearing in the lower portionioi said receptacle in vertical slidable relation therewith.

aussmsco'rr Enus.

ance with the nature and quantity of the solid 

